* Quarantine for travellers from Italy and Greece
* Solely seven international locations exempt
* Eire fears ‘exponential’ COVID development (Provides Aer Lingus and Ryanair feedback, background)
DUBLIN, Sept 17 (Reuters) – The Irish authorities on Thursday tightened its COVID-19 journey restrictions by imposing quarantines on travellers from main vacation markets Italy and Greece, angering the nation’s dominant airways Ryanair and Aer Lingus.
Aer Lingus mentioned it was involved by the actual fact the federal government had repeatedly indicated in current weeks it deliberate to undertake a extra liberal European Fee proposal, however as a substitute reduce the variety of international locations exempt from quarantine.
Eire had initially waived quarantine for travellers from international locations with decrease COVID-19 charges, however as its 14-day an infection fee surged to above 50 circumstances per 100,000, the federal government mentioned solely locations half that fee could be exempt.
The transfer got here as the pinnacle of Eire’s COVID-19 modelling group on Wednesday warned of “exponential development” with out new restrictions.
The brand new “Inexperienced Listing”, which fits into impact on Monday, permits travellers arriving from simply seven international locations to keep away from quarantine: Cyprus, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.
The Fee envisages the removing of journey restrictions on international locations with 14-day an infection charges of underneath 50 per 100,000. Irish Prime Minister has promised to implement the EU guidelines as soon as they’re formally authorized on Oct. 13.
“The ‘inexperienced listing’ introduced at the moment doesn’t characterize a step in the direction of alignment with the European Fee’s free motion proposal,” Aer Lingus mentioned in an announcement.
Ryanair, which is taking a case to the Irish Excessive Court docket difficult the legality of the quarantine guidelines, mentioned the aviation and tourism sectors “can’t afford any additional delays or indecision.”
The airline has threatened to shut bases within the nation’s second and third largest airports, Shannon and Cork, for the winter except restrictions are eased.
On Thursday Group Chief Govt Michael O’Leary mentioned capability at Dublin airport may additionally be lower. (Reporting by Conor Humphries; Modifying by Hugh Lawson and Andrew Cawthorne)
